Macedonian name-change referendum, 2018

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Macedonian constitutional referendum, 2018
Republic of Macedonia
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This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
the Republic of Macedonia

A referendum is planned to be held in the Republic of Macedonia on 30 September 2018.[1] The question will be "Do you support EU and NATO membership by accepting the deal between Macedonia and Greece?".[2] It is related to the 27-year long dispute between Macedonia and Greece over the former's name and follows an agreement with Greece on the issue which has prevented the accession of Macedonia to the European Union and NATO.[3] The government has already started a social media campaign about the issue of the referendum.[4]

Background[edit]

Following Macedonia's independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, successive Greek governments have claimed that the country's name implied territorial claims on Greek Macedonia and have objected to the use of "Macedonia" by the new state. It was admitted to the United Nations in 1993 as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM)[5], while most countries have recognised the Republic of Macedonia under its chosen name.

Repeated attempts at negotiation for a composite name failed for 27 years. However, in 2018, high-level contacts between the governments of the two countries intensified, with the Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Bujar Osmani visiting Athens for the name talks on 9 January,[6] and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev meeting with his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland on 24 January.[7][8][9] In the Davos meeting, the first of its kind in seven years, there appeared to be some resolution between the two leaders to end the naming dispute and to improve the relations between the two countries. Zaev subsequently agreed to take initiatives that would soothe Greek concerns over Antiquisation policies, while Tsipras agreed to consent to Macedonia's bid to join regional initiatives or agreements.

On 12 June 2018, Tsipras announced that he had reached an agreement with Zaev "which covers all the preconditions set by the Greek side".[10] The proposal would result in the Republic of Macedonia being renamed the Republic of North Macedonia (Macedonian: Република Северна Македонија, translit. Republika Severna Makedonija), with the new name being used for all purposes.[11] Zaev announced that the deal includes recognition of the Macedonian language in the United Nations and that the citizens of the country will be called, as before, Macedonians. However there would also be an explicit clarification that the citizens of the country are not related to the Ancient Macedonians.[12][13] "The agreement once and for always confirms and strengthens the Macedonian ethnic and cultural identity, the Macedonian language, the Macedonian nationality. It guarantees the security of the country and provides a secure future for the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia", Zaev said.[14] These changes will be put to a referendum for citizens of the Republic of Macedonia in the autumn of 2018. In addition to changing the name of the country, the referendum will remove references to the "Macedonian people" from the constitution which imply an ancient heritage.[15][16] Additionally, the agreement stipulates the removal of the Vergina Sun from public use in the Republic of Macedonia and the formation of a committee for the review of school textbooks and maps in both countries for the removal of irredentist content and to align them with UNESCO and Council of Europe's standards.[17] The agreement was signed at Lake Prespa, a body of water which is divided among Macedonia, Greece and Albania.

Parliament paved the way for the referendum by ratifying the agreement for a second time early July.[18] After a month long delay by the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE to slow down the referendum preparation by not appointing members to the State Election Commission the parliament has finally agreed end of July on a new composition.[19][20]

Question[edit]

The text of the question to be put to voters will be:

Are you in favour of European Union and NATO membership by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece?[21]

Endorsements[edit]

Yes Vote[edit]

No Vote[edit]

Results[edit]

Choice Votes %
For 0 0
Against 0 0
Invalid/blank votes 0 –
Total 0 100
Registered voters/turnout 0 0
Source: SEC

References[edit]

  1. ^ Macedonia sets Sept. 30 as date for referendum on the name deal with Greece Channel NewsAsia, 30 July 2018
  2. ^ http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-sets-name-referendum-for-september-07-30-2018
  3. ^ Macedonia, Greece Sign 'Historic' Name Deal Balkan Insight, 17 June 2018
  4. ^ Macedonia Govt Starts 'Name' Referendum Campaign Balkan Insight, 2 July 2018
  5. ^ "United Nations Security Council Resolution 817" (PDF). 
  6. ^ "Macedonian Deputy PM In Athens For Talks On Name Dispute". RFERL. Retrieved 24 January 2018. 
  7. ^ "Greece and FYROM PMs to meet over 'Macedonia' name dispute". Retrieved 24 January 2018. 
  8. ^ "PMs to meet after 'Macedonia' name dispute rally in Greece". Retrieved 24 January 2018. 
  9. ^ "Tsipras and Zaev unblock Euro-integration process". Retrieved 24 January 2018. 
  10. ^ "'We have a deal,' Greek PM says over FYROM name row | Kathimerini". ekathimerini.com. Η Καθημερινή. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018. 
  11. ^ "Greece ends 27-year Macedonia name row". BBC News. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018. 
  12. ^ "Republic of North Macedonia with Macedonian language and identity, says Greek media". Meta.mk. Meta. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018. 
  13. ^ "Κλείδωσε το «Βόρεια Μακεδονία» - Το διάγγελμα Τσίπρα για τη συμφωνία (Agreed on «Northern Macedonia» - Tsipra's speech to the nation about the deal)". kathimerini.gr (in gr). Kathimerini. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018. Την ίδια στιγμή -και ίσως αυτό να έχει τη μεγαλύτερη ιστορική βαρύτητα και αξία για την Ελλάδα- στη Συμφωνία που καταλήξαμε, για πρώτη φορά προβλέπεται ότι οι Βόρειοι Γείτονές μας δεν έχουν και δεν μπορούν να διεκδικήσουν στο μέλλον καμία σχέση με τον αρχαίο ελληνικό πολιτισμό της Μακεδονίας. Ο όρος Μακεδόνας της ελληνικής ιστορικής κληρονομιάς, ο οποίος έλκει την καταγωγή του από τον αρχαίο ελληνικό πολιτισμό διαχωρίζεται ρητά και κατηγορηματικά από τον όρο Μακεδόνας όπως τον χρησιμοποιούν και στη βάση του οποίου αυτοπροσδιορίζονται οι πολίτες της γειτονικής μας χώρας. 
  14. ^ "Zaev:We made a deal - Republic of North Macedonia, with Macedonian language and Macedonian identity". kajgana.com (in Macedonian). Кајгана. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018. 
  15. ^ "Zaev:The agreement is Republic of North Macedonia". dw.com/mk (in Macedonian). DW. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018. 
  16. ^ "Severna Macedonia is born: Athens and Skopje announce 'name' deal". aljazeera. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018. 
  17. ^ "Also the «Sun of Vergina» is being lost: what the agreement (original: Χάνεται και «ο Ηλιος της Βεργίνας»: Τι ορίζει η συμφωνία για το σήμα)". Crash Online. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018. 
  18. ^ Macedonia MPs ratify Greece deal, paving way for referendum Rappler, 6 July 2018
  19. ^ Macedonia Opposition Puts ‘Name’ Referendum at Risk Balkan Insight, 10 July 2018
  20. ^ Macedonia Starts Work on Referendum Preparations Balkan Insight, 26 July 2018
  21. ^ Macedonia sets question for name referendum EU Observer, 30 July 2018
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